Once in a generation we are gifted with players who define the beauty and strengths of our game. Their supreme dedication to sport pays off in a collaborated showing of true heart and skill. Last night in Pittsburgh, we witnessed arguably the three best players in the NHL take the ice and show us why this game is truly amazing.

We start off with the first player on the box score for the Lightning, and not coincidentally, the NHL’s leading goal scorer Steven Stamkos. Stamkos again was just flat out brilliant around the net. His evolution as a goal scorer and game changer continues to amaze me.

In the second period, the Lightning stifled the Penguins neutral zone transitio...

There have been times in this short season where the Pittsburgh Penguins have won five straight games and outscored their opponents at a three goals to one click. Then there are times in which the Penguins go on a road trip to Florida, Carolina, and Montreal.

In three games the Pittsburgh Penguins allowed 16 goals. Florida scored four goals on the power play. Carolina scored three goals that were products of behind the net passing. Montreal used high point shots to either tip or attack rebounds, but P.K. Subban’s goal to end the second period was again started from behind the net. It is a simplistic breakdown of the game to realize that the Penguins are not playing systematica...

In 2009, after winning the Stanley Cup, the Pittsburgh Penguins held the 30th pick in the NHL Draft. With said pick the Penguins selected Simon Despres, a big bodied defensive prospect from the QMJHL. Standing at 6’4 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Despres wowed scouts with his excellent skating prowess and his offensive upside. While still very raw in his game, it was clear that Despres possessed the skill set and size to become an all situation defensemen in the NHL.

After being invited to training camp with the Penguins in 2009 and 2010, Despres showed how much his game needed to evolve. He would be sent back to his junior club in both seasons to progress. In the two seasons...

On Tuesday, January 29th, the Pittsburgh Penguins played host to the New York Islanders. With five minutes remaining in the second period, the Islanders John Tavares and Matt Moulson would both score, respectively, on consecutive power plays. At the end of the period the Pittsburgh Penguins players were booed off of the ice. The real kicker, when the Penguins returned to the ice, the arena had been half full.

Just ten days ago the Penguins record would have indicated an average team considering they were only 3-3-0. People questioned their toughness, their skill, and whether or not they could ever be considered a true Stanley Cup contender. That was just six games ...

The NHL is back, and there is no better way to celebrate the return of hockey in Pennsylvania than to have its two bitter rivals battle in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will travel to Philadelphia for a 3PM show down at the Wells Fargo Center. The arena will be filled to capacity with nearly 20,000 orange-and-black-clad Flyers fans, with a little yellow sprinkled in the mix.

The Penguins traded Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes for Brandon Sutter, a defensive prospect and a first round pick (with which they drafted another defensive prospect). Shortly after, they shipped defenseman Zbynek Michalek back to the Phoenix Coyotes for a couple of prospects and a third round pick.

Then, during the free agency frenzy, the struck out on their main target former New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise and their assumed secondary targets defenseman Ryan Suter and winger Alexander Semin (the verdict is still out on Shane Doan, though the rumored four year, $30 million asking price and ...

With a light load of free agent talent, it is no shock that a player who encompasses all of the descriptions above still remains unsigned. Alexander Semin is easily the most intriguing free agent of the entire 2012 free agent class. In 469 regular season games Semin has acquired 408 total points (197 goals and 211 assists). In comparison Zach Parise, now of the Minnesota Wild, has 410 points in 502 reg...

We talked about it on Saturday night, and the general consensus was that Pacioretty would likely sit a few games, following a dangerous hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and Quebec native Kris Letang.

Late in the third period, Letang came streaking up the ice with a Pens winger, cut across the high slot after the blueline, and wound up for a shot at the net. Pacioretty cut through in the opposite direction, looking for a hit. Unfortunately, Letang was hunched forward and looking elsewhere, and got a face-full of shoulder that would go on to break his nose...